Tyler Okonma, popularly known by his stage name Tyler, the Creator, released his eighth studio album “CHROMAKOPIA” on Monday, Oct. 28, an unusual release date as most artists release music on Fridays. Okonma’s reason for releasing on a Monday was because he felt that more people could truly get into the album and really feel the lyrics during a weekday activity like driving to work compared to something that people do on weekends, like going to a party. People clearly didn’t mind, as the album received 299,500 album-sale equivalent units and debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 200 chart.
Okonma went into the album hoping to make something that sets him apart from music that has been released recently. Everything about the release was significantly different than the “industry norm” that exists nowadays, with other artists like A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti announcing albums and postponing release dates for months, and sometimes even years. Instead, Okonma released the album just two weeks after announcing it on his social media, putting out only two snippets and one lead single.
You are introduced to the album with the song “St. Chroma” ft. Daniel Caesar. After about 90 seconds of Tyler whisper rapping, he and Caesar break out into a chorus that nourishes the part of you that has been waiting for real art in music for so long. Tyler then changes the style into a more lyrical one, using a more simplistic flow compared to what he generally likes to use. This song is like the movie trailer for this album, as it gives a little bit of every part of it.
After the perfect opening, “Rah Tah Tah” and “Noid” are very different styles, “Rah Tah Tah” comes in with an angry rap, which seems like he’s just trying to quiet any haters in the industry. At the end of his last verse he says “The biggest out the city after Kenny, that’s a fact now.” This line attempts to give props to Kendrick Lamar, while still making it clear that he is number two. “Noid” is alright, I don’t feel like it’s anything special, but it’s definitely a catchy song that tackles the paranoia that Tyler feels after getting to this level of fame.
“Darling, I” ft. Teezo Touchdown is my favorite song of the album. It makes me feel good inside, with the rhythm the song opens up to, the background vocals and just the overall ambiance of the song just makes the listener feel like moving with the beat. The song goes over his pursuit for a significant other, but how he’s been unsuccessful. At the end of the second verse, Tyler says “Nobody could fulfill me like this music s*** does, so I’ll be lonely with these Grammys when it’s all said and done.” It seems like he’s attempting to accept the reality and cope with the fact that he may not ever find a woman that he can be his wife, and makes the claim that it’s alright cause he loves music more than anything else.
“Hey Jane” is about a pregnancy scare between Tyler and a fictitious person named Jane. The first verse is Tyler rapping from his perspective, basically just saying that he’s willing to be there for the child but he is terrified of the prospect of being a father, as he doesn’t feel like he is ready to be a dad. The second verse is Jane, who is saying that she doesn’t want to ruin Tyler’s career, and is okay with him not being a father to the child but she just wants to continue to be friends with him. The subject that the song gets into feels so real, as it gives perspectives from both sides of the situation and doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything with it really feeling like you’re in the head of someone who is going through this.
“I Killed You” and “Judge Judy” weren’t anything in my opinion. I probably won’t be re-listening to them, but I still think it’s important to listen to them if you want the full experience of listening to the album. “Sticky” ft. Glorilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne was by far the least thought-provoking song on the album. It feels like a lunch table freestyle by a couple of friends who are just saying whatever they want. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Glorilla or Sexyy Red going into the song, but they both snapped on this song. Lil Wayne had the best feature as he came in with wordplay and with it being so short I yearned for more, which unfortunately never came. Tyler then finishes the song with a verse which brags about how rich, famous, and powerful he is. This song is a must-listen-to any casual listener, and I can say confidently you don’t have to like Tyler to enjoy this song.
“Take Your Mask Off” ft Daniel Caesar and LaToiya Williams approaches the subject of people pretending to be someone they’re not for approval from others. Each verse tackles someone in a different situation. The first is a young adult who is involved in nefarious activities that correlate with “being cool” in gangs despite not enjoying that lifestyle at all. The end of the verse reveals that he was actually an actor, and is now facing five to ten years in prison due to his need for validation. The next verse talks about a man who had a wife and kids but was actually gay. The man had been living a lie due to the fear of what would happen if he came out, as he felt like it was a sin. At the end of the verse, once again the most powerful part, he says that he would trade being gay to be “free” but goes back on it anytime he truly enjoys himself. The next verse talks about a mom who has no time to time left to actually have a life and personality. The most powerful line of the song comes at the end of the verse, where he says “Fantasize about the dreams that you left on the shield, can’t even get alone time to think of killin’ yourself, let’s talk about it.” While this is a very grim topic, this situation is real for so many people all around the world who aren’t at all happy with the life they live and feel like there’s no way out. The last verse finally tackles Tyler. He talks about the lies that he has lived with and dares himself to reveal all the things he has bottled up over the years, ranging from paranoia to regret. In the final two lines, he states, “Now go and stand in the sun, and use some fake tears to water your roots. Thanks that mask off and tell ‘em the truth.” He’s saying that he could tell the truth, and in turn, become healed, and then grow similar to a flower, which relates to a previous album by him named “Flower Boy.” There is no confirmation if he meant this in these lines, but it is certainly an interesting prospect that could be very symbolic for the rest of his career. I liked this song but it was very tough and real, making it something that you’ll need to sit down and listen to.
The next two songs have different central themes, as “Tomorrow” tackles the fear he has of aging, while “Thought I Was Dead” ft. ScHoolboy Q & Santigold talks about how some people in the industry try to strip him of the glory and acclaim that he has received over the years, and basically says that they can’t because he’s just too good for anyone to take him down.
“Like Him” ft. Lola Young has become the climax of the album, as he talks about what many consider his biggest issue that he has had to deal with. The vacancy of a father. He says in the chorus, “Mama I’m chasing a ghost, I don’t know who he is, Mama I’m chasing a ghost, I don’t know where he is, Mama I’m chasing a ghost, do I look like him?” This is a recurring theme throughout the song and as Tyler pours his heart and soul out onto the mic, you struggle as this song feels the most real due to the lack of advanced wordplay, which makes the casual listener understand and feel everything that he says. At the end of the song, his mother, Bonita Smith, gets onto the mic and in a heartbroken tone states, “It was my fault, not yours, not his… He’s always wanted to be a father to you.” This speaks volumes, as the entire song Tyler was worried that he looks like his father despite him being absent in his life, and after this emotional rollercoaster of a song you find out that he wasn’t to blame, rather his mom, the person who gives Tyler advice on how to deal with the stress and paranoia that comes with his fame, is the culprit. This song is a must listen and it hits even harder every time you hear it, especially if you listened to the album all at once leading up to this point.
“Balloon” ft. Doechii was alright, as it doesn’t tug the heartstrings like the previous song, but wasn’t anything special, which is a bummer as the listener yearns for more from Tyler after elite performances that could go down as one of the most well written and performed songs of the decade. I must stress that it’s not a bad song, and should be listened to, it just feels out of place on the album and like it should’ve been swapped with “Tomorrow.”
The final song on the album, “I Hope You Find Your Way Home,” opens up with incredible vocals by Tyler. The song is very slow and simple, which feels similar to a final descent after returning from one of the greatest trips that you’ve taken. He comes in with a newfound confidence that wasn’t present on the rest of the album, which gives you the feeling that he has finally overcome his demons and is finally ready to move on, and “find his way home”.
CHROMAKOPIA is by far the most impressive album of 2024. Coming in a year where the hip-hop industry was without any stellar projects from artists, Tyler delivered more than what anyone could’ve expected, likely securing another Grammy nomination and possibly even a win. I believe that anyone who likes substance and thought-provoking lyrics and topics in music should allot an hour of their day to sit down and truly appreciate the piece of art that is CHROMAKOPIA
